CRIMINAL LAW ROUNDUP: A quick recap of the top criminal cases from March 2025
Top criminal cases on quashing of proceedings, arrest, bail, acquittal, and more.
Bail
Supreme Court Roundup March 2025 | Stories on 2002 Gujarat Riots Case; Kashmir University VC murder; Rising student suicides; Tax officers’ arrest powers; and more
As March comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the significant judgments, orders, and developments from the Supreme Court. This roundup provides an overview of the top stories, important cases, and key updates that made headlines this month. It also highlights some never-before-reported judgments, notable cases from SCC Weekly, a “Know Thy Judge” feature, as well as appointments and transfers by the Supreme Court.
Kerala High Court grants bail to MS Solutions founder Shuhaib in class 10 question paper leak case
On 06-03-2025, the Kerala High Court denied anticipatory bail to Shuhaib.
There must be a right balance between hearing appeals against conviction where accused are in prison & where accused are on bail: SC
“Considering the pendency of very old criminal appeals, priority is usually given to the hearing of the appeals where the accused are in prison. The appeals against conviction where the accused are on bail take a backseat”.
Delhi High Court grants bail to an alleged member of Lawrence Bishnoi Gang accused of shooting outside of Ex-MLA’s residence
The CCTV footage exhibited before the Court does not clearly reveal the shooter’s identity. Moreover, the forensic analysis of the CCTV footage and the Call Detail Records analysis of the accused’s mobile phone is still pending. Therefore, the Court refrains from drawing any conclusions at this stage.
Bombay HC grants bail to woman accused of inflicting burn injuries on her niece for spending Rs 10 on chocolates
The applicant, on earlier occasions also, had harassed, ill-treated, and beaten up the victim.
Supreme Court grants interim bail to MLA Abbas Ansari in UP Gangsters Act case
Earlier, the Court had permitted him to attend a ‘Fatiha’ ceremony of his father Mukhtar Ansari, who died on 28-03-2024.
FSL report must be obtained on priority, preferably within 60 days: Rajasthan High Court grants bail
“Whether the investigation under NDPS Act is to be completed within 60 days or 180 days is totally dependent upon FSL report.”
Grounds of arrest must be served in writing simultaneously with arrest memo; Delhi High Court grants bail in abetment to suicide case
On perusal of the arrest memo shows that though there is column providing for ‘reasons of arrest’ against which it is stated “for the purpose of fair investigation” but neither there is column for ‘grounds of arrest’ in the arrest memo nor it is the case of the prosecution that the ‘grounds of arrest’ were separately served upon the present petitioner at the time of his arrest.”
Delhi HC directs to conclude trial of acid attack accused in a month; Issues directions for compliance of higher courts’ order to conclude trials in time bound manner
It is unfortunate that despite directions from Supreme Court and this Court, the trial has not yet concluded. This was unacceptable, considering that such directions were passed while disposing of the bail application, and the accused is in judicial custody for over 10 years. Such prolonged delay in compliance with judicial directions defeats the very purpose of directing expeditious trial.
‘Nothing substantial in trial, matter adjourned almost 78 times’; Gujarat HC grants bail to accused in NDPS case
“Bleak hope of any speedy trial in the matter.”
CRIMINAL LAW ROUNDUP: A quick recap of the top criminal cases from February 2025
Top criminal cases on quashing of proceedings, arrest, bail, acquittal, and more.
Kerala Court grants bail to BJP leader PC George in hate speech case
A case was registered against PC George, alleging commission of offences punishable under Sections 196(1)(a), 299 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 120(o) of Kerala Police Act, 2011.
‘Victim had sufficient knowledge, full capacity to know import of her actions’; Bombay HC grants bail to 24-year-old accused of raping his then 14-year-old girlfriend
“The victim has left her parents’ house without informing the parents and stayed with the accused for 3 days and 3 nights, she also confessed that she was in love with the accused and travelled along with him to different places and had a consensual encounter.”
‘Long incarceration can lead to depression, anxiety, drug abuse’; Bombay HC grants bail to a man in custody for over 9 years
Inmates face social stigma which can disrupt relationships with family and friends and the incarcerated persons often suffer long-term consequences from having been subjected to pain, deprivation, and extremely atypical patterns and norms of living and interacting with others.
‘Not a sexual predator but a young person involved in consensual relationship’; Bombay HC grants bail to 22-year-old man accused of raping his 16-year-old girlfriend
“Both the parties were of the age to have a reasonable understanding of the import of their conduct, and despite that, had engaged in the said act over a substantial period of time.”
Bombay HC grants bail to a 70-year-old man who alleged to have conspired for slitting girl’s throat as a human sacrifice
The witness stated that he has seen Applicant 2 at the incident spot, but the Court noted that his statement is recorded after three years.
HIGH COURT FEBRUARY 2025 WEEKLY ROUNDUP | Stories on Marital Rape; Peter England’s Trade mark; Maggie; MP Abdul Rashid’s parole; and more
A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week.
Cryptic orders while granting bail in money laundering cases without considering Section 45 PMLA mandate can’t be vindicated: SC
“Consideration of two conditions mentioned in Section 45 is mandatory, and while considering the bail application, the said rigours of Section 45 have to be reckoned by the court to uphold the objectives of the PMLA.”
Courts having jurisdiction to grant bail/pre-arrest bail not expected to act as recovery agents: Supreme Court
High Court should have independently applied its mind and arrived at a conclusion as to whether a case for grant of bail, on settled parameters, had been made out or not.